Clean tip sickle fin

ABSTRACT

A clean tip sickle fin for agricultural equipment wherein the fin includes a bottom section or portion having a single opening therein for the projection therethrough of a securing element, the securing element having a fasttener such as a nut thereon, the fin including tapered side walls.

United States Patent 11 1 Kerr Sept. 4, 1973 [54] CLEAN TIP SICKLE FIN 1,830,438 11/1931 Miller 248/243 X 3,327,766 6 1967 K 160 381 [76] Inventor: Ralph W. Kerr, Bowman, N. Dak. 33,680 1111861 I 561299 58623 1,518,813 12/1924 Orth 56/299 x 22 Filed: Sept. 22, 1971 Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey [211 182,771 Assistant Examiner J. 0111? Att0rneySherman Levy [52] US. CL, 56/299 [51] Int. Cl Aold 55/02 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 56/296320; 1

A clean t1p slckle fin for agncultural equ1pment 16/82, 160/381, 248/243 wherem the fin mcludes a bottom sectlon or pomon rmg e e- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment having a fasttener such as a nut thereon, the fin 2,803,352 8/1957 Smola et a]. 248/243 X i l di tapered id ]l 2,425,937 8/1947 Hilton 16/82 UX 2,218,894 10/1940 Schlosser 248/243 X 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 4 I975 7 56, O O O INVENTOR RALPH W KERR HTTU NE) CLEAN TIP SICKLE FIN This invention relates to a mower, sickle, or the like, and more particularly to a device for preventing grass, grain, forage, or the like, from becoming lodged in the sickle or assembly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective means for preventing cuttings from becoming lodged in mowers, windrowers, combines, and similar machinery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clean tip sickle fin that will prevent the sickle from becoming plugged or clogged with cuttings, grass, or the like.

Still another object is to provide such a clean tip sickle fin that is economical to manufacture and efficient in use and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, taken together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary plan view, showing a sickle bar for a mower with the cleaning attachment of the present invention assembled thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaning attachment of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates a portion of a machine such as a windrower, combine, or the like, and the machine 10 is of conventional construction and includes the usual cycle bar 11, fingers l2, blades 13 and shoe 14. The numeral 15 indicates the area or zone adjacent the shoe 14 that normally has a tendency to become clogged with grass, cuttings, or the like, and in accordance with the present invention there is provided a clean tip sickle fin 16 for preventing such cuttings, grass and the like from clogging the zone or area 15.

As shown in the drawings, the clean tip sickle fin 16 includes a bottom wall or portion 18 that has an opening I9 therein, FIG. 4, and the member 16 further includes a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls or side portions 20 that have sloping or tapered upper edges 21. The top portions of the edges 21 are indicated by the numeral 29 and the lower portions are indicated by the numeral 30.

The numeral 22 indicates a securing element such as a bolt or screw, and the securing element 22 includes a shank 23 that has a threaded end portion 24, whereby a fastener such as a nut 27 can be snugly nested or positioned between the side portions 20 when the nut 27 is threaded on the portion 24. The securing element 22 further includes a head 25 that has a kerf or slot 26 therein, FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the numeral 28 indicates the usual rivets for the machine 31. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shank 23 of the securing element 22 extends through an opening 32 in the supporting structure of the machine when the parts are in their proper assembled position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a device that is especially suitable and useful for preventing grass, clippings, cuttings, and the like from clogging a sickle or other similar piece of equipment or machinery. In use, with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, the clean tip sickle fin 16 of the present invention is adapted to be arranged as shown in FIG. 1, so that the higher end portions 29 are spaced inwardly from the end or shoe 14. The securing element 22 replaces one ofthe conventional rivets 28, and the shank 23 of the securing element 22 extends through the registering apertures 32 and 19 whereby when the fastener 27 is threaded on the securing element 22, as shown in the drawings, the parts will be maintained in their proper assembled relationship relative to each other.

As shown in the drawings, the nut or fastener 27 on the bolt or securing element 22 fits snugly between the two sides 20 of the sickle fin, and this construction prevents the device from turning. The bolt 22 may have a round head 25 with a screw slot 26 therein, and the bolt 22 replaces one of the conventional rivets 28 that ordinarily hold a section of a knife because the space for the device to work in is limited.

It will therefore be seen that there has been provided a double fin-shaped device that is adapted to be fastened on a sickle at or near the end ofa sickle on a suitable unit such as a grass mower, combine, windrower, or any other machine that utilizes a sickle for cutting grass, grain or other forage or grain crops.

The purpose of the present invention is to prevent cuttings, grass, grain, straw, weeds, and the like from lodging at the end of the sickle or in the shoe 14 at the end of the cutter bar. The tapered fin construction, when installed with the low end 30 towards the end of the sickle has the effect of slipping under the cuttings when the device moves out towards the end of the cutter bar, and this pushes the cuttings back as the device moves from the end to prevent the cuttings from accummulating or becoming lodged at the end or in the shoe opening, so as to assure a cleaner cut at the end of the sickle bar.

One of the rivets 28 is adapted to be removed and replaced by a bolt or screw 22 as shown in the drawings, for fastening the device to the sickle section. The nut 27 is positioned in place between the sides 20 of the finshaped device 16. The device can thus be easily removed to permit the sickle to be removed for sharpening or repair. Other methods of fastening the device to the sickle can be used. The belt 22 is inserted from the bottom of the apparatus.

' The clean tip sickle fin of the present invention serves to prevent the accumulation of cuttings at the end of the sickle so as to assure a cleaner cut and the device is simple and efficient and can be used on either end of the sickle and can be used on different kinds of sickles and on various kinds and sizes of cutting machines, grain windrowers, combines, forage cutters and other machines that use asickle. The device 16 can be fastened in place with a suitable bolt, or if desired, the device can be spot welded in place, and the device can be made in any suitable size.

The clean tip sickle fin of the present invention possesses certain important differences and advantages not found in prior devices, for example, with the present invention, the cuttings will be worked away from the end of the sickle. The device has the sloping edges 21 in conjunction with the other features, and the securing element 22 has the fastener 27 that is snugly nested between the fins or sides 20. This construction aids in preventing the clean tip sickle fin from working loose from its proper position. The device can push cuttings and material only one way because the small end 30 slides under the material and is pushed by the big end, and because of this principle,'it can be used at either end of the sickle, either in the shoe opening or near the same, or at any desired location on the sickle. Thus, the device is adaptable for use on different kinds of sickle sections or knives on grass mowers, grain windrowers, combines, and other machines that use a sickle for cutting grass, grain and the like.

The clean tip sickle fin will prevent the accumulation and clogging of cut grass at the end of the sickle bar, and the device is equally effective on various kinds and sizes of sickle sections and can be used at either end of the sickle and can be used on mowers, windrowers, binders, combines, and the like.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with an agriculture machine including ,a sickle, a clean tip sickle tin being arranged adjacent an end of the sickle and preventing accumulation of cuttings at the end of the sickle and assuring a cleaner cut, said fin embodying a member having a flat bottom section provided with a single opening therein, a securing element extending through said opening and through said sickle, and said securing element having an enlarged head on its lower end, a fastener detachably mounted on the upper end of said securing element, said fin further including a pair of spaced parallel side walls, each side wall having a tapered formation, said side walls being free of notches and slots, said side walls each including vertically disposed uninterrupted straight edges on the high ends thereof that are arranged at right angles to the flat bottom section, the lower ends of the vertically disposed straight edges being coplaner with the inner straight edge of the bot tom section, said fastener being snugly positioned between the side walls of the fin so that rotationof the fastener is prevented, said tapered side walls being arranged with the lower edges thereof contiguous to the outer end of the sickle, and the high ends of the side walls being spaced inwardly from the outer end of the sickle. 

1. In combination with an agriculture machine including a sickle, a clean tip sickle fin being arranged adjacent an end of the sickle and preventing accumulation of cuttings at the end of the sickle and assuring a cleaner cut, said fin embodying a member having a flat bottom section provided with a single opening therein, a securing element extending through said opening and through said sickle, and said securing element having an enlarged head on its lower end, a fastener detachably mounted on the upper end of said securing element, said fin further including a pair of spaced parallel side walls, each side wall having a tapered formation, said side walls being free of notches and slots, said side walls each including vertically disposed uninterrupted straight edges on the high ends thereof that are arranged at right angles to the flat bottom section, the lower ends of the vertically disposed straight edges being coplaner with the inner straight edge of the bottom section, said fastener being snugly positioned between the side walls of the fin so that rotation of the fastener is prevented, said tapered side walls being arranged with the lower edges thereof contiguous to the outer end of the sickle, and the high ends of the side walls being spaced inwardly from the outer end of the sickle. 